Top Dog Park Sites Tapped in Brewster

Just like handicapping the 2016 presidential race, it may be too early to pick the winner, but the dog park development committee in Brewster has pushed three sites ahead of the others in town.

Just like handicapping the 2016 presidential race, it may be too early to pick the winner, but the dog park development committee in Brewster has pushed three sites ahead of the others in town.

Other locations are still in the mix but at Wednesday afternoon's meeting, sites in the woods behind the Brewster Police Station, under the power line opposite the intersection of Underpass Road and Route 137 and behind the Freeman's Way athletic fields were all championed by committee members.

"I'm partial to the property off Freeman's Way," noted committee member Dave Smith. "It's a large parcel (63 acres). It's under-utilized and partially developed. There are no abutters. It's shady in the summer. The trails are already there for equipment to get in."

The land backs into Nickerson State Park from behind the fields. There is parking at the fields. There are wetlands and a pond on the land. It also abuts Route 6.

"There are two potential hurdles," noted committee chair Haley Winfield. "One if with the water department. And there is the potential the road [in] will now be locked in the winter time."

Tom Lincoln discussed the 37 acres the town owns (Sheep Pond Woodlands) under the power lines opposite Ferretti's Market. The acreage is beyond the parking lot for the bike trail on Route 137.

There are also 30-plus acres behind the police station. That location has been put forward before, and a proposed multi-use dog park/recreation area there was defeated at town meeting in 2012.

"At some point that land will be used for a community center, council on aging or some type of housing," Winfield said. But a small dog park could be added, however, the larger plans would have to take shape first and that's years away. But a park could be temporarily located there.

"If we put a fence in and it was in the way we could just move the fence," Winfield noted. "So if nothing else we've got some options. It would be really wonderful to have something in place by summer."

Committee members will meet with the water, recreation and conservation commissions.

Lori Miranda, the animal control officer in Dennis, discussed the relatively easy process that created the Cheryl Malone Dog Park at Fresh Pond. Malone was Miranda's predecessor.

She noted they have a 5-foot fence and have expanded parking to eight cars.

"I'm looking to put agility equipment in. We posted the rules outside. And there's an information booth, the DPW built something, and I put things in about rabies clinics. I put toys in from Ocean State Job Lot and egg cartons; take a ball, leave a ball," Miranda said.

She noted the park welcomes people from out of town.

"We need a park that's not only for the people who live here but for the people who visit," Winfield said. "That's what Dennis has really embraced."